I was wondering if racing a 125cc would be the most affordable way to race? I guess I'm looking at tire changes here,which ends up being a portion of the seasonal costs.How many races/weekends do you get out of a pair of tires on 125 a race pace? Also, what are the other expenses for owership, maintainance and such?
Thx, Ray
#627 ma
A 125GP bike is probably the most fun bike, but not the cheapest. YSR racing is the cheapest, you can buy a bike for about $1500. A set of tires will last 1-2 seasons and are $100 a set. It's fun, safe, cheap racing. Racing a 125 you'll spend $260 a set of tires, which will last about 2 weekends. Engine maintenece is pretty involved too. New top end every 300 miles $100, new crank every 1200 miles $800, spark plug $40. You might want to look into a EX500, there inexpensive and the tires will probably last a whole season.
rs, a 125 will eat up tires faster than an EX500? Really, hows that possible? Do you race a 125?
Ray
ray,what ended up happening with the fz you were looking at?
Tires on a 125 will last much longer than 2 weekends, I'm personally planning to change them out twice in a season. The other maintenance factors do add up for the top-ends and cranks but overall cost for the year will be much less than a 600 or anything bigger. I'm not sure how much the lightweight 4-stroke bikes would cost to run because they will be easy on tires also but I'm positive that you won't have nearly as much racing them as you would a 125.
Hey, who are you,lt.wt29? How do you know so much about me? Do you work for big brother? Should I terminate this transmission?
Anyway,still considering the fz,but as I see less and less funds availible for the track this year I thought the 125's were worth looking into. I only had to use 2 sets of tires last season and did 6 race weekends and a couple of track days. Thats, ~ 36 races plus a bunch of practice sessions and the trackdays, just about a full season on my GS. But granted I was usually running mid pack, 1:30's at summit and 1:28'S at Loudon (bests).
With the 125's being so light I thought you can maybe get a full season out of the tire. But I maybe totally off the mark, if you consider heat cycles. I've heard peole say that you can only count on ~ five heat cycles. I must have gotten 20 or more on a set. Is it possible that (1) lightweights have a real hard time getting the tires up to temp., (2) spint races are so short, (3) the times I'm running(not that fast), (4) ignorance, (5) way lucky, (6) a combination of all of the above.
Ray (still a freakin' amature) #627 ma
we were pitted near each other in the rain at summit last year. I have a fz I'm racing.
Oh, ok, no first names. Is that how this works? Thanks for fueling my inert sense of paranoia, give me a clue does your name start with a "C".
So, how'd you find tire wear on 'your bike? Did you run slicks all year?
'R' (co-pilot of the black silent helicopters) hush-hush
sorry about that, I'm chris I was pitted near you at summit in the rain.my bike did great tire wear was very minimal I only did 2 races a weekend so they lasted a long time.I did use slicks most of the time this year I'm trying michelins I didn't care much for the dunlops, they slid around alittle much for me.
Can someone tell me what classes the 125 fits in/is legal for ccs, and will ccs be running the GT races on saturday. Thank you,
George
QuoteCan someone tell me what classes the 125 fits in/is legal for ccs, and will ccs be running the GT races on saturday. Thank you,
George
George:
Here is the link for the rule book. It should answer your questions.
http://www.ccsracing.com/pdf/03FUSA_RoadRaceRules.pdf
Dawn :)
Dawn's usin' a proxy server! You're hardcore now!
QuoteDawn's usin' a proxy server! You're hardcore now!
Sssshhhh......
;)
125 is legal in GP Singles,LWGP, GT Lights ,F40 if your old enough .
Keith
Quote125 is legal in GP Singles,LWGP, GT Lights ,F40 if your old enough .
Keith
Don't forget MWGP and ULGP :). You will be outgunned by the big bikes but if you can manage to beat a couple of them it will be a great feeling. As far as actual tire wear on a 125. I just bought mine in November so I don't have much experience but 1/2 season sounded like a good starting point. The tires that were on my bike when I picked it up were 2 years old and had a full race season as well as a couple of extra track days on them. Because I was new to 125's and not planning to push the bike I went ahead and used them for my first track day. I ended up being within the top 5 fastest bikes that day even with improper gearing and overall found no problems with grip. I changed them before the next track day since I found some cracks around the sidewalls from age...
Thank you for the replies and information, I appreciate it. I wish I could run the F40 class, but I'm 2.5 years short at this time... I actually can't wait until I'm 40! Thought I'd never say that.
Quote125 is legal in GP Singles,LWGP, GT Lights ,F40 if your old enough .
Keith
A 125 in F40??? Are you nuts! You'll get smoked by those bigger bikes! Oh, wait. You smoked me. :'(
I guess I will have to try and smoke you this year with 3 additional cylinders and 60 more HP :-)
KW
QuoteI guess I will have to try and smoke you this year with 3 additional cylinders and 60 more HP :-)
KW
Keith...
eh? Don't tell me that you're going to be racing a 600... ???
Hey Keith, Steve here....
So we get to run with each other this year? did you pull the R6 out of hybernation???
yea, i went and done it , the 125 is sold and is leaving Saturday. Bought another R6 and just started dismantling it Sunday, so I don't know when it will be ready. I dont think Weeden and Stewart are shaking in their boots just yet but maybe some of the F40 guys should be!! I'll probably be slower on the R6 than the 125, it would be my luck.
My buddy is in Japan for another year, he is gonna bring me back a 250, then we really have some fun!!!
KW